Basilicata and its extraordinary wine Aglianico del Vulture Superiore
Italian excellences are many, the Boot is covered from north to south with vineyards and the products labelled with the Docg certification (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) are 74.
The new entry is Nizza DOCG Riserva Vigna, a Docg from Piedmont of a single varietal of Barbera, the 17th conquest of this region in 2016.
15 regions shared out the Italian Docg, first of all Piedmont with 17 Docg wines, then Veneto with 14 labels and Tuscany with 11. But also other smaller regions such as Abruzzo and Basilicata boast their Docg wines.
In particular, Basilicata has a unique wine, an excellence that is less famous than Montepulciano, Chianti and Franciacorta, but that is anyway worth mentioning for its qualities and characteristics. It is a jewel with a ruby red colour, certified as a Docg in 2010: we want to talk about Aglianico del Vulture Superiore.
Aglianico del Vulture Superiore: wine variety and territory
Vineyards of Aglianico del Volture and Aglianico 100% are cultivated on the ills of the province of Potenza, as the Code of Conduct requires. They are warmed by the sun, in the north of Basilicata close to the dormant volcano Monte Vulture between 200 and 700 meters high.
Rionero in Vulture, Barile, Rampolla, Ripacandida, Ginestra, Maschito, Forenza, Acerenza, Melfi, Atella, Venosa, Lavello, Palazzo San Gervasio, Banzi and Genzano di Lucania are the municipalities that have cultivated for centuries the wine variety Aglianico. The Greek brought it in Italy between the VII and the VI century BC. It is possible, in fact that its name derives from hellenica, “coming from Greece” , then changed into Aglianico during the Aragonese reign in the XV century. The vineyards are cultivated in the sunny ills with the espalier and “alberello” system and the vinification takes place in the same municipalities where it is produced, with exception of some neighbourhood municipalities.
Aglianico del Vulture Superiore: organoleptic characteristics
Its colour is ruby red with dark red shades, the perfume is fragrant and intense with notes of red fruits, strawberry and raspberry. In the mouth it is harmonic and well balanced, sapid and long lasting. The alcoholic volume is around 11,5 and 13% and the total minimum acidity is around 4,5 g/l.
The ageing in barrique is able to intensy its perfumes and aromas of this wine. It is defined “aged” after 3 years and it is called “riserva” after at least 5 years, 24 of which spent in barrique and at least 12 months in the bottle. The ageing in wood barrels enrich the wine enhancing its shades and taste, it gives a slight aroma of wood and it is the perfect pairing with rich dishes and meat.
Aglianico del Vulture Superiore Riserva with the ageing can have orange shades, the smell is stronger and the taste is enriched with wood notes.
